Man Killed, Woman Critical After Gaithersburg Rollover Crash

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA) -- A man is dead and a woman is critically injured after a violent rollover crash in Gaithersburg early Thursday morning.

Captain James Daly, spokesman for the Montgomery County Police Department, says the crash occurred in the 500 block of East Diamond Avenue around 1:30 a.m.

According to police, a police officer was patrolling the area when he noticed an SUV approaching with its high-beams on.

"The driver failed to dim its headlights and the officer made a U-turn to stop the vehicle," police said in a press release. "As the officer made the U-turn, he observed the SUV accelerate and turn eastbound on E. Diamond Avenue, while traveling through a red light."

The officer lost track of the SUV but later discovered it had left the roadway. Police said the SUV hit a utility pole, a bus stop, a tree, a fire hydrant, and a pole support cable, before it overturned and came to a stop at 503 E. Diamond Ave., police said.

The two people inside the vehicle were ejected as it rolled. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said in a press release.

Police witnessed the driver commit a traffic violation shortly before the crash, however, Captain Daly says officers never initiated a chase.

The Montgomery County Police Department is still investigating this accident. If you have any information call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620. Callers may remain anonymous.